Exploring the nature of rural energy transition in India

2017 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 463-479 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anandajit Goswami ◽  
Kaushik Ranjan Bandyopadhyay ◽  
Atul Kumar
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Mental Model ◽  
Cognitive Mapping ◽  
Rural Households ◽  
State Level ◽  
Energy Transition ◽  
Latent Factors ◽  
Rural Energy ◽  
Fuzzy Cognitive Mapping ◽  
Content Type

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to explore the nature of rural energy transition in cooking options in India. Although India is aiming to achieve a double-digit economic growth, a large share of rural households still rely on firewood for cooking which not only has serious repercussions of increasing indoor pollution but also has a concomitant adverse effect on women and child morbidity and mortality. However, transition to clean energy options like improved cookstoves for these households may not be necessarily linear. It is often driven or resisted by latent factors such as caste, trust, social capital, information flow, social positioning of clusters that are deeply embedded in the social and cultural norms and values specific to local rural contexts. This has been shown in the present case study that pertains to eight villages in the remote and deprived Purnea district of Bihar and the need for internalizing them in the macro energy policymaking has been established in the paper. Design/methodology/approach The paper applies a macro foundation research that is complemented by micro foundation tools of fuzzy cognitive mapping-based mental model framework to achieve the purpose of the study. Focused-group discussions and interviews are also conducted to establish the narrative of the paper. Findings Caste, socio-political position, asset structure, remoteness, culture and technology access affect rural households’ decision making capability that is related to shifting from using the traditionalmeans of firewood and biomass based traditional cookstoves for cooking to adopting improved clean cooking stoves which will enable the transition toward the use of clean rural energy in the eight villages in Bihar chosen for this study. Research limitations/implications The findings of the paper have larger implications for the broader macro energy policymaking in the country by taking into account the non-linear, latent factors of village contexts. Practical implications The research will help energy policymakers in decision-making and will guide the implementation process of national- and state-level policies on rural energy transition in India. Social implications The findings of the paper will help the smoother implementation of national- and state-level rural energy transition policies for cooking, creating developmental dividends for rural Indian households. Originality/value The research is new with regard to the application of non-deterministic fuzzy cognitive mapping-based mental model approach to contribute to the country’s national- and state-level rural energy transition policies.

Modeling the decision-making process of financial path transition from entrepreneur's perspective using a fuzzy cognitive mapping

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Anji Benhamed ◽  
Said EL Hajjar ◽  
Fatima Hamad Yaseen ◽  
Noamen Amara
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Cognitive Mapping ◽  
Job Security ◽  
Pull Factors ◽  
Push Factors ◽  
Fuzzy Cognitive Mapping ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Pull Factor ◽  
Salary Level ◽  
The Impact

PurposeThis study explores how entrepreneurs modify their financial path(s) and go beyond job security to attain greater financial freedom. The present work examines the cash-flow quadrant (CFQ) attributes and demonstrates the importance of the push-pull factors for an individual's quadrant transition in achieving financial freedom.Design/methodology/approachA hypothetical model and an abductive approach were used through regression models in a population sample of 260 Bahraini entrepreneurs. Fuzzy participatory cognitive mapping was also used to develop a conceptual model of financial path transition's decision making among entrepreneurs and study the impact of certain push-pull factors on the entrepreneurs' decisions.FindingsThe triangulated study identifies six categories of variables: financial freedom, workplace condition, independence, salary level, family life-building and retirement savings as key pull-push factors that significantly impact financial path transition's decision. Fuzzy cognitive mapping (FCM) extends our knowledge of the dynamics of CFQ transitions from a push-pull factor perspective. The results indicate no significant differences between the variables listed in the regression model and the fuzzy cognitive map model. Four categories of pull-push factors appeared as the entrepreneurs' top rankings when ordered by complexity, centrality scores and impact weight. These categories were workplace conditions, financial freedom, independence and salary level. The findings widen the scope of knowledge of each quadrant and rationalize how and why such factors impact quadrant decisions among Bahraini entrepreneurs.Originality/valueMany studies discuss the CFQ model and consider its quadrants a specific method for identifying a unique financial path to generate income. A shifting quadrant occurs when individuals want to change their financial path and move beyond job security to achieve more financial freedom. Although this transition is well-established in the literature, the factors accounting for the individual's transition across quadrants have not received enough attention. This study fills this gap and calls for more in-depth investigations of this area to better understand the dynamics of CFQ transitions from a push-pull factor perspective.

A multiple criteria group decision-making approach for the assessment of small and medium-sized enterprise competitiveness

2019 ◽  
Vol 57 (2) ◽  
pp. 480-500 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joana M. Gonçalves ◽  
Fernando A.F. Ferreira ◽  
João J.M. Ferreira ◽  
Luís M.C. Farinha
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Evaluation System ◽  
Cognitive Mapping ◽  
Assessment System ◽  
Senior Managers ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
Decision Making Processes ◽  
Constructivist Epistemology ◽  
Study Context

PurposeSmall- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) have become increasingly important in national and international markets because they contribute to the development of local and national economies. SMEs often face serious challenges when competing with multinational companies. The purpose of this paper is to develop a method for assessing SMEs’ competitiveness.Design/methodology/approachBased on a constructivist epistemology, this study makes an integrated use of cognitive mapping and the measuring attractiveness by a categorical-based evaluation technique (MACBETH). To this end, face-to-face sessions were conducted with a panel of entrepreneurs and senior managers who deal with the challenges of maintaining SME competitiveness every day. The proposed assessment system was tested and validated by the panel members.FindingsThe methodological processes adopted in this study provide promising results for decision makers seeking to identify the most competitive SMEs. Specifically, the results emphasize, among other points, the importance of innovation and the human dimension to gaining competitive advantages.Research limitations/implicationsThe evaluation system developed in this study is extremely versatile and confirms the usefulness of integrating cognitive mapping and MACBETH to facilitate evaluations of SME competitiveness. However, due to its idiosyncratic and process-oriented nature, generalizations need to be done with caution.Practical implicationsThe proposed method can be valuable to researchers seeking to develop mechanisms for evaluating SMEs’ entrepreneurial performance and include specialized know-how and sensemaking in organizational decision-making processes.Originality/valueThe integrated use of cognitive maps and MACBETH contributes to a better understanding of how to assess SMEs’ competitiveness. No prior work reporting the use of this dual methodology in this study context has been found.

A decision-making formula for value engineering applications in the Sri Lankan construction industry

2017 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
pp. 77-91 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gayani Karunasena ◽  
Kosala Rajagalgoda Gamage
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Construction Industry ◽  
Cognitive Mapping ◽  
Value Engineering ◽  
Sri Lankan ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Regulatory Bodies ◽  
Research Outcome ◽  
Analyse Data

Purpose The construction industry in many developing countries is reluctant to apply value engineering (VE) due to uncertainty of outcomes. The purpose of this paper is to examine the existing practices of VE techniques and make recommendations to organisations and national construction regulatory bodies, to standardise VE practices. A decision-making formula is introduced to determine profitability of VE applications prior to implementation. Design/methodology/approach A broad literature review and six case study projects that applied VE were selected. Thirty-nine semi-structured interviews were conducted to gather data within cases. Six expert interviews were conducted as confirmatory interviews to clarify and validate research outcome. Content analysis and cognitive mapping were used to analyse data among case studies. Findings Application, knowledge and experience on VE techniques among construction professionals are unsatisfactory. Recommendations include reducing contractor’s design responsibility, introducing proper VE guidelines and statutory regulations. A framework is introduced to assist authorities to standardise application of VE techniques. A decision-making formula is suggested to determine margins of contractor’s portion due to VE techniques and original profits gained. Originality/value The formula can be used as a decision-making tool by construction industry practitioners to determine successfulness of proposed VE techniques, and the proposed framework can be used to guide construction professional bodies to standardise VE practices.

An artificial-intelligence-based method for assessing service quality: insights from the prosthodontics sector

2020 ◽  
Vol 31 (2) ◽  
pp. 291-312 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sara M. Martins ◽  
Fernando A.F. Ferreira ◽  
João J. M. Ferreira ◽  
Carla S.E. Marques
Keyword(s):  
Artificial Intelligence ◽  
Decision Making ◽  
Service Quality ◽  
Cognitive Mapping ◽  
Evaluation Model ◽  
Vice President ◽  
Dental Prosthesis ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Technological Advances ◽  
Definition Of

PurposeThe prosthodontics sector is facing major challenges because of scientific and technological advances that imply a clearer definition of lines of action and decision making processes. Measuring quality of service in this sector is a complex decision problem since the perceptions of three main players need to be considered: patients, dentists and dental technicians. This study sought to develop an artificial-intelligence-based (AI-based) method for assessing service quality in the dental prosthesis sector.Design/methodology/approachUsing strategic options development and analysis (SODA), which is grounded on cognitive mapping, and the measuring attractiveness by a categorical based evaluation technique (MACBETH), a constructivist decision support system was designed to facilitate the assessment of service quality in the dental prosthesis sector. The system was tested, and the results were validated both by the members of an expert panel and by the vice-president of the Portuguese association of dental prosthesis technicians.FindingsThe methodological process developed in this study is extremely versatile and its practical application facilitated the development of an empirically robust evaluation model in this study context. Specifically, the profile analyses carried out in actual clinics allowed the cases in which improvements are needed to be identified.Originality/valueAlthough already applied in the fields of AI and decision making, no prior work reporting the use of SODA and MACBETH for assessing service quality in the prosthodontics sector has been found.

Strategic interpretation on sustainability issues – eliciting cognitive maps of boards of directors

2016 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. 162-186 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jukka-Pekka Bergman ◽  
Antti Knutas ◽  
Pasi Luukka ◽  
Ari Jantunen ◽  
Anssi Tarkiainen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Boards Of Directors ◽  
Cognitive Mapping ◽  
Corporate Sustainability ◽  
Cognitive Maps ◽  
Decision Makers ◽  
Cognitive Diversity ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Strategic Issues ◽  
Strategic Issue

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine the role of cognitive diversity on strategic issue interpretation among the boards of directors making sense of sustainability management. The study also investigated the centrality of the corporate sustainability issues to identify common interpretative patterns in the shared cognitive maps among the companies. In addition, the aim was to advance quantitative methods for the analysis of decision-makers’ cognition. Design/methodology/approach The research was an exploratory study analyzing 43 individual cognitive maps collected through surveys from the boards of nine cleantech companies. For the elicitation of the cognitive maps, the study used the hybrid cognitive mapping technique. The diversity of the shared cognitive maps was analyzed using the distance ratio formula and the graph analysis method with eigenvector to measure the centrality of the strategic issue interpretation in the maps. Findings This study provides evidence through the analysis of distance ratios on the existence of cognitive diversity among companies within the same industry. Surprisingly, despite the cognitive diversity, the study identified strong common patterns on strategic issue interpretations among the companies. In addition, the study shows that the sustainability management issues have gained minor attention from the boards of directors. Research limitations/implications The initial industry sample provided relatively restricted perspectives on managerial cognition, and to confirm the findings regarding the effects of industry on the shared cognitive maps of top decision-makers, wider industry-level data are needed. Practical implications This study provides an approach to facilitate the process of strategic decision-making for top decision-makers by identifying the shared beliefs of the selected strategic theme and to concentrate on the most central strategic issues in the company and industry. It reveals asymmetry between the significance of sustainability issues in an open agenda and the real position of sustainability concepts in the shared cognitive maps in the green industry. Also, the study advances cognitive mapping techniques for application in the board’s decision-making. Originality/value This paper contributes to brightening the black box of corporate governance by shedding light on the interaction of the concepts of corporate sustainability and other key strategic issues within the shared cognitive maps of the boards. It also provides new empirical knowledge on top decision-making processes and the effects of cognitive diversity on the strategic issue interpretations within the corporate boards of the green industry, and it further develops the methodology for the quantification of cognitive diversity and the content of cognitive maps.

A fuzzy cognitive mapping model for service supply chains performance

2017 ◽  
Vol 21 (4) ◽  
pp. 388-404 ◽  
Author(s):  
Abbas Rezaei Pandari ◽  
Adel Azar
Keyword(s):  
Supply Chain ◽  
Performance Evaluation ◽  
Supply Chains ◽  
Performance Measures ◽  
Cognitive Mapping ◽  
Relationship Management ◽  
Flow Management ◽  
Fuzzy Cognitive Mapping ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Service Supply Chains

Purpose The aim of this study is to present a model for service supply chain performance evaluation (SSCPE) based on fuzzy cognitive mapping (FCM). Design/methodology/approach Despite the unique nature of services, which distinguishes them from goods, the performance evaluation of service supply chains (SSCs) has still not received adequate attention from researchers or practitioners. With the help of in-depth interviews conducted with insurance industry experts in Iran, the performance measures of SSCs are defined, and the relevance between the performance measures, which are based upon the knowledge of experts in this field, are presented as a fuzzy cognitive map. Findings By blocking the aggregate map of experts, a model for SSCPE is developed that discusses performance measures and metrics of strategic, tactical and operational SSC processes, such as service-providing management, service-enabling management, market management, cash-flow management, customer-relationship management, supplier-relationship management, knowledge- and information-flow management and risk management. Indexes of FCM models indicate that the supply chain service quality and strategy blocks have the most importance compared with others. Originality/value The paper develops an original SSCPE model that can be used as a basis for SSC improvement and develops an excellence model for SSC.

scholarly journals Knowledge management visualisation in regional innovation system collaborative decision-making

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Marina Weck ◽  
Iris Humala ◽  
Pia Tamminen ◽  
Fernando A.F. Ferreira
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Knowledge Management ◽  
System Dynamics ◽  
Cognitive Mapping ◽  
Innovation System ◽  
Multiple Criteria ◽  
Regional Innovation ◽  
Collaborative Decision Making ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Collaborative Decision

PurposeThis study was developed in response to the need to develop age-friendly smart living environments due to the complex demands placed on society by the ageing of the population. This study aims to analyse the potential that knowledge visualisation offers collaborative decision-making applied to the development of a multiple criteria framework supporting knowledge management (KM) through knowledge collaboration (KC) and knowledge sharing (KS) in the context of regional innovation systems (RIS).Design/methodology/approachUsing a socio-technical approach, knowledgeable and experienced representatives of RIS innovation actors were brought together to develop a constructivist multiple criteria framework that integrates knowledge visualisation and collaborative decision-making techniques (i.e. cognitive mapping and system dynamics).FindingsThe study introduces a multiple criteria model supporting KM encompassing conditions and practices of RIS innovation actors facilitating and encouraging KC and KS. The potential for knowledge visualisation in collaborative decision-making is explored in great depth and illustrated in a case study setting.Practical implicationsThe panel members who participated in this study consider our methodological proposal to be extremely versatile and see great potential for further applications in RIS contexts.Originality/valueThe combined use of cognitive mapping and system dynamics according to the strategic options development and analysis (SODA) approach offers a holistic and well-informed perspective on the issue in question. The literature reports no prior work of this methodological combination in the same research context.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document